Used Garden Tractor

Used Garden Tractor – Tips to Find the Best Buy

By Robert Davids

With today’s prices continually increasing and with most people feeling the pinch in their wallets, it’s a good idea to consider looking at used garden tractors for your yard work needs.

Of course, this is assuming that you need a garden tractor for your landscaping maintenance. Perhaps a push-behind lawnmower will take care of your needs.

However, most people who have at least a half acre of lawn will find a riding lawn tractor to be quite useful.

So if you’re wondering whether it’s a good idea to buy a used garden tractor, then read on. We’ll address what to look for in a used model, and we’ll provide tips so that you can decide between a private party sale and a used machine from a retailer.

Used Garden Tractor Tips

You’ll be able to tell a lot simply by how the tractor looks when you pull in. Is it garaged? Washed and waxed? Chances are that if the original owner kept his machine garaged and washed, then he probably took pretty good care of it.

Talk to the seller about his used garden tractor. Ask him some basic questions like: Why are you selling? Is there anything wrong with this used garden tractor? What do you like about it? What do you dislike about it?

Have the seller start up the engine, and then engage the mower deck. Listen closely for knocking or missing. Watch the seller drive the machine around a bit, and then hop on yourself for a test drive.

Pay attention to the engine of this used garden tractor. Is there any unusual vibration? Does the machine ride comfortably, or does it jerk you around? How’s the steering? The braking?

The seller may also be including some accessories in the sale of his used garden tractor.  Many garden tractors have add-ons like tractor tillers, baggers and so on.

You’ll want to ask if any additional accessories come with this machine.

Try to mow an area with longer grass. How does it perform? Does it cut the grass, or just whack it off? A less-than-clean mower cut can indicate hard use and that the mower blades may need sharpening. In that case, you may want to look at other used garden tractors.

Try a Used Garden Tractor Retailer

Most lawn tractor merchants will carry used garden tractors also. This is because they often get old models that have been traded in on a newer machine.

The good news is that a trade-in will usually go through some sort of inspection from the retailer’s service department.

If the store is going to put its name on this sale, or in other words, stand behind the transaction, the store wants to make sure that this machine is going to do them proud.

The retailer wants to be confident that this used garden tractor will last for the new owner, because if it doesn’t, guess who’s going to come back to the store MAD?!?

Generally the used garden tractor inspection will include fluid checks, cleaning and testing. Many retailers will include some kind of warranty if they complete this type of check up, so be sure to ask what it is.

Many Garden Tractor Manufacturers

The fact that there are many garden tractor manufacturers today is a benefit to the consumer, since you have a large pool to choose from.

You can find such names as MTD, Toro, John Deere, Poulan, Husqvarna, Cub Cadet and more, and many retailers will carry more than one brand name, with both new and used garden tractors in the stable, so to speak.

You will want to figure the cost of a used garden tractor to run at about 50% of new prices, although there are sometimes bargains to be found and prices could even be lower.

Of course, age plays a factor in the asking price as well as previous use.

It’s always a good idea to shop online so you know what new prices are, as well as the available features on most models. Always check the reviews, since you can gain insight from others who have bought and used different models.  These will often provide details as to what they liked — and disliked — about a particular machine

With a little legwork and savvy shopping, you’ll be a pro when it comings to shopping for your “new” used garden tractor, and you’ll be able to find the machine that satisfies your needs.